Save Room for Dessert!

No matter what you have for dinner, you’ll want to try these 13 places for dessert.

By Martha Cheng

Published: 2011.01.13 04:28 PM

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Mini cones at Mariposa.

Dessert at Mariposa can be a whimsical affair. Take the butterfly tuile sprinkled with toasted coconut alight the liliko‘i pudding cake ($7.50). The texture is somewhere between pudding and soufflé and the ramekin in which it arrives is crammed full with fresh pineapple, mango and kiwi. There are also the mini cones (four for $5), which at the moment come with tiny scoops of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, dusted with chocolate sprinkles. They’re plain, but good, adorable and fun, which is sometimes all we need a dessert to be. Ala Moana Center, 951-3420, daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The general complaint or praise—depending on which side of the fork you’re on—of Japanese-style French desserts is that they’re lighter and less sweet than their American counterparts. The opera cake ($3.80) at Patisserie La Palme D’Or straddles the plate nicely, delivering deep flavors through rich coffee buttercream and chocolate ganache while chocolate sponge cake and a thin wafer of chocolate lighten the slice. Ala Moana Center, 941-6161, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There are few desserts as lovely as a perfect apple tarte tatin. Le Bistro’s is one of these—thin, caramelized apple slices fanned over a round of flaky puff pastry. Vanilla ice cream caps off this signature French dessert. 5730 Kalanianaole Hwy., Niu Valley Shopping Center, 373-7990. Open daily except Tuesdays, 5 to 9 p.m.